Mitchell Robinson completes rehab and made available to play ahead of Knicks' matchup with Raptors
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson dunks against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
TORONTO — The Knicks took a step toward becoming whole again Wednesday as Mitchell Robinson made his return to game action Wednesday night after 50 games on the sideline.
Robinson was shut down on Dec. 8 when he felt the effects of a fractured left ankle during a game in Boston. He got an X-ray at halftime and returned for a brief appearance in the second half. He underwent more testing back home and had a surgical procedure on December 11.
He returned to practice in Denver last week and had no setbacks as he took contact and joined in the full workouts, running and jumping again with the team. He participated in the Knicks' morning shootaround Wednesday and was upgraded from out to questionable. And after working through his pregame routine he was declared available to play.
“He's been good,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It's a long layoff so just get started with the next process and the next step for him.”
Months ago the Knicks applied for a disabled player exception, a formality in case he did not return this season, but the NBA declined the request and Robinson continued his work with the hope of getting back this season.
“With me it was just more focusing on rehab and coming back,” Robinson said last Thursday in Denver when he spoke for the first time since the injury. “Taking it day by day, stuff like that. I was just trying to get back.”
But he said he didn’t have a date circled for a return, just waited for the doctors to clear him. “I asked. They just throw me curveballs,” he said. “I just simply wait for them to give me the OK. I don’t want to get out there and have it happen again.”
Thibodeau hinted last week that Robinson would come off the bench as he ramps up and gets comfortable. Because the Knicks have Isaiah Hartenstein filling in well at center in Robinson’s absence.
“I think every player is different, brings different strengths to the team,” Thibodeau said. “With Mitch, we know the shot-blocking, the rim protection, pick and roll defense, the pressure on the rim. The offensive rebounding is obviously we think the best in the league. So all those things. They're selfless things that help make the team a lot better. So we're glad to have him back.”
Robinson was playing the best ball of his career when he suffered the injury. He was leading the NBA in offensive rebounding and anchoring the defense. But the team has changed drastically in his absence. They have traded away RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes and added OG Anunoby, who is still sidelined with elbow inflammation.
But the Knicks have managed to remain not only on course with a 43-28 record entering Wednesday’s game, but still were tied for the top spot in offensive rebounds per game after losing the leagues leading offensive rebounder.
“I think that was the big question mark we had going into the [season],” Thibodeau said. “I didn't feel it was a question mark just based on what we had from last year. With Josh [Hart] really, our second unit was the point guard, a center and three wings. But Josh's rebounding is elite.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
